Ball fountain pen



e w 5, n A n 8 U .f W m Z, m 2, R j w M A f a ma m n Ll a 7/////// /VM TW J. LAFoREsT BALL FOUNTAIN PEN Filed July 21, l1939 'July 23, 1940,

l vpen can f Patented July `23, 194() UNITED? STATE/js. PATENT OFFICE Application July 21, 1939, serial No. 285,191

In France July 28, 1938 2z claims. (ci. 1z0-48)v The present invention relates to a. fountain pen of the ball type, in which the tracing member is constituted by a ball the projection of which at the point at the end of the fountain be adjusted, by displacing said point in order to produce a more or less thick line, according to requirements and to the users desire; the tracing ball being combined with a regulating ball and a feeding ball. In the fountain pen of subject-matter of the application, the feeding ball presses on a seat of noncircular shape, oval for instance, the space comprised between said ball and said seat constituting a passage for the ink, which thus permanently passes from the feeding ball to the regulating ball. and, finally to the tracing ball.

The applicant has already proposed to cause Athe thickness of the line traced to vary by screwing or unscrewing the point containing the balls, said balls having a more or less important displacement limited by an abutment, according to the desired thickness of the line traced.

The abutment above mentioned isv constituted. according to the present invention, in quite a peculiar manner and ensures the constant supply of ink or other liquid, and its'distribution to the feeding ball; it is essentially constituted by a rigid member formed by a bundle of wires 'partly this type forming the -or entirely twisted together, and even of parallel the head of the abutment thus constituted Wires; preferably forms a ring pressing against a shoulder provided in the body of the fountain pen, whereas the ends of the wires arein contact with the feeding-ball.

When the fountain pen is used, the feeding ball is constantly moved in its housing and, consequently, exertsI a succession of thrusts on the abutment, tending to engage between the wires,

causing the end of the Wires constituting said abutment to be spaced apart and to be moved towards each other in the same way as in the feeding of the ordinary fountain'pen, in such a manner that the `ink which fills the wires of the abutment constantly sup lies the feeding ball; said multi-wire abutment. ensures, on .the one hand the passage of the ink from the reservoir to the ballsjon the other hand, the admission of air into the reservoir, through an aperture which opens into an expansion chamber. Said expansion chamber surrounding a part of the point is constituted by a series of successive. chambers communicating together or through a corkscrew passage; the shape and the capacity of said expansion chamber being combined so as to prevent the ink from flowing outside, particularly in the case of jerks or shoc The accompanying drawing illustrates, by way of example, the part of the fountain pen forming thesubject-matter of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows on a very enlarged scale, a section of the point only of the fountain pen.

Fig. 2 shows in section, and on an enlarged scale, the memberfcontaining the balls.

Fig. 3 is a section made according to X X of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a modication, in section of Fig. l, in which the abutment, the balls and their housing have been omitted for greater clearness.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the head of the abutment. l As` will be seen in the drawing, illustrating the point of the fountain pen only which can be mounted on' any ordinary reservoir system, selffilling or the like, and which is indicated in dot and dash lines in the drawing,'at R, said point is composed of a metal part C (separately illustrated in Fig. 2) obtained, for instance, by stamping out very thin metal or by 4shrinking and extruding a metal tube of very reduced thickness; said member, owing to' these machining operations, is greatly cold-hammered; it is very strong whilst being sllghtlyresilient.

It has the shape of two cylinders l and 2 of very different diameters and united together by a flared extension 3 for instance of frustum shape, forming a reducing device.

The cylinder I is adapted to permanently secure, by forced engagement, the point C in the tubular member B made of plastic material; the cylinderl carries at lits upper parta nange l which rests on a shoulder of member B, which always holds it in position.

'I'he lower cylinder 2, of very small diameter, contains the two superposed balls 6 and 1, the tracing ball 6 projects outside the point to the extent of about one third of its diameter; it cannot escape owing toa beading 5 of the metal of the point.

Both these balls have a diameter very slightly smaller than that of the cylinder 2 in which they ioy roll with slight friction; above and resting on f them, is arranged the feeding ball 8, of larger diameter and consequently housed in the bottom y of the c one 3; this part of the cone forming a seat for the ball 8 is slightly distorted or ovalized as shown in Fig. 3, so as to constitute between the ball 8 and the wall one or more passages 9 for the liquid.

The bail 8 does not form a valve and the balls l and 6 are constantly supplied with ink or liquid; thequantity of ink passing to the small balls will vary according as the ball 8 is more or less pressed on its seat by the abutment D, giving to the passages 9 a more or less important cross section.

Said member C, containing its balls, is arranged as shown, in member B, whichscrews in the reservoir R.

In member B is housed the abutment D, which has already been mentioned.

This member must berigid, to withstand all the thrusts -which are transmitted thereto by the balls when the fountain pen is being used; it constitutes the intermediary between the reservoir and said balls and ensures the feeding of the same.

Said member is, preferably, constituted by wires or other suitable material, in appropriate number, partly or completely twisted together; they might also be parallel; in the embodiment shown by way oi' example, in Figs. 1 and 5, said member is constituted by a wire bent in the shape of a ring III folded down at right anglesv to the branches I I and I2 of the wire which extend parallel to each other on a part oi' their length and are .then twisted one on the other (Fig. 1).

The ring III, takes a bearing on a shoulder formed in member A near the reservoir R, `whereas the end of the branches Il and I2 comes in contact with the ball 8; the branches or wires are as close together as possible, without being crushed against each other.

Their end parts engage in the conical part 3 of the point and cannot exaggerately be spaced apart. The space comprised between them forms a kind of capillary conduit conveying the liquid to the balls; furthermore, said member allows the admission of air necessary for the satisfactory operation of the fountain pen.

In all fountain pens, the air contained in the reservoir changes in volume with the lvariations of temperature; when the volume increases, the pressure generated exaggerately supplies the pen; moreover, when the temperature lowers and, consequently, owing to the 'diminution of the quantity of ink in the reservoir, 'an admission of air must be ensured in the latter the compensation chamber formed by the combination of members A and B ensures the regular operation of the fountain pen; the member B, Which'screws in member A, is provided above its screw threaded part with partitions or banles I3, at right angles to the general axis extending to the wall of the chamber formed in member A; said partitions form as many small chambers which communicate together through slots Ii formed in each partition and vdiametrically opposed at each stage; moreover, a channel I5 is formed in the screw threaded part IB, allowing members A and B to be in communication; nally, an orifice I1 is formed in the wall of member B, between the two extreme upper partitions; itis then under- Y stood that the ink driven along by the pressure of the air, passes through the orifice I1 and, successively, in the small chambers constituted by the washers I3; the total volume of said chambers is sufficient for retaining the ink momentarily in excess, which practically never flows through. the conduit I5.

When the pressure diminishes, the ink in the small chambers is sucked and enters the fountain pen; through the same circuit, passes the outside air, which is to enter the fountain penfor ensuring the satisfactory operation of the same. These washers or bailies can be replaced by a corkscrew member of square screw thread and slow pitch.

As shown in the modification of Fig. 4, the washers or bailles I 3 might also be done away with and replaced by a wire 2li or other material wound in a spiral about the member B, which :,aoasss would play the same part and would have still another function explained later on.

The presence of said expansion chamber has also the advantage of preventing the projection of ink or liquid when the apparatus is subjected yto downward jerks or shocks.

The adjustment of the thickness of the line traced is obtained by moving the ball unit'toing, to more or less screw the member B in member A; but it is necessary to' maintain this screwlngvat the point chosen; for that purpose, a washer I8 made of cork, for instance, is interposed between the members A and B, ensuring by its resiliency a slight friction which is suiilcient for preventing any accidental rotation of member B in member A.

In order to increase the volume of the expansion chamber, the embodiment of Fig. 4 may be adopted; the cork is done away with and at the upper part of member B are formed longitudinal slots I9, this allowing member B to enter with medium friction, the member A the diameter of which would only have allowed it, before the formation of the slots, to enter member A, with considerable friction.

This system can be combined with the wire which' may form a spring, cooperating in preventing the accidental rotation of member B in member A, or also with the cork I8.

The operation will be easily understood from the foregoing: the ink or the liquid contained in the reservoir R passes through the ring IU of member D, then, through the capillary channel formed by the wires of said member. reaches the ball 8, fills up all the lower part of the point and rises in B until it reaches the orifice I1, througl which air escapes or enters according to the requirements of operation of the fountain pen; when the upper level of I1 is reached by the ink, the admission of air is cut off.

The ball 8 feeds the balls l and 6 which are mutually provided with inkbyrrotation, without overfeeding the latter as the Spaces 9 only allow the passage of the necessary quantity of lnk. According as member B is more or less screwed in member A, the displacement of the balls in their housing, which displacement is limited by the end of the abutment member D, allows of tracing a more or less thick line; when this displacement is relatively great, the cross section of the spaces 9 is increased, a larger quantity of ink reaches the tracing ball, resulting in a thick line, and reversely vwhen the possible displacement of the balls is small, by passing through all the intermediate lines between the thick line to vthe thin line.

The work of the lower parts of the abutment D is similar to that of an ordinary pen, as already explained; under the thrusts, the ball 8 tends to enter between the wires, but can only partly do so, because the diameter of the group of wires constituting the abutment is only very slightly smaller than thatv of the interior of chamber 3, the wires can only open until they touch the wall of the chamber and re-assume their initial position as soon as the thrust ceases.

The forms, constructional details, dimensions, materials used, can vary without departing thereby from the principle of the invention.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A fountain pen comprising at the end of an ordinary fountain pen body, a member terminated by a tracing element constituted by a metal member the end of which forms a cylindrical chamber, in said chamber a movable tracing ball surmounted by a movable regulating ball, a beading at the end of the cylindrical chamber for preventing the escape of the tracing ball, a flared extension of the cylindrical chamber receiving a movable feeding ball,'the connection between thecylindrical chamber and its ared extension Vbeing of noncircular shape constituting 'a seat for the feeding ball, the space comprised between the noncircular seat for the feeding ball and said ball constituting a permanent passage for the ink towards the regulating ball and the tracing ball, an abutment limiting the displacement `of the three balls, the cross? section of the permanent passage for the ink varying accordingto the axial displacement limited by the abutment that the ball unit can effect, the greater said displacement, the greater the cross section of the passage for theink. -the thicker the line traced,

and vice versa; an expansion chamber arranged in the member carrying the tracing member in communication with the interiorof the reservoir and with the atmosphere for preventing the excessive supply of ink to the tracing member and ensuring the admission of air necessary for the operation of the fountain pen.

2. In a fountain pen as claimed in claim 1, the

connection of /the cylindrical chamber with its flared extension is of oval shape.

3. In a fountain penas claimed in claim 1, the

abutment is constituted by wires the upper part of which rests against a lshoulder arranged inv the'member carrying the tracing member whereas the ends of the wires are in contact with the feeding ball which, under the action of the thrusts it receives when writing, tends to engage between the wires. successivelyL spacing the ends -4|) of said wire to and from each other, in the same way as an ordinary fountain pen.

4. In a fountain penas claimed in claim 1, the abutment is constituted by wires the upper vpart of which rests against ashoulder arranged in 4.5 lthe member carrying the tracing member whereas the ends of the` wires are in contact with the feeding ball which, under the action of the thrustsit receives when writing, tends to engage between the wires successively spacing the ends of said wire to and from each other, in the same way as an ordinary fountain pen, the wires of the abutment leave between them a slight space forming a capillary channel ensuring on the one hand the ow of the ink to the ball reservoir and on the other hand the admission of air to the reservoir necessary for the operation.

5. In a fountain pen as claimed in claim 1, the

wires constituting the abutment are entirely f twisted on each other.

i 6. In a fountain pen as claimed in claim 1, the

, wires constituting the abutment are partly twisted on each other. 5 l

7. In a fountain pen as claimed in claim 1, the wires constituting the abutment are parallel to each other. r

8. In a fountain pen as claimed in claim l, the Iupper part of the abutment is inthe form of a ring'. i 9. In a fountain pen as'claimed in claim 1, the member terminated by the tracing member is made in two parts one screwed to the end of the usual fountain pen reservoir, the other located within said first part, containing the abutment and terminated by the tracing member, an expanslon chamber arranged between themember screwed at the end of the reservoir and the member carrying the tracing element, for storing the ,excess of ink supplied to the tracing element owing to the expansion of the air contained in the reservoir, comprising a succession of small 5 chambers in communication togetherand with. the atmosphere; the air necessary for the operation passing through said expansion chamber to reach the reservoir.

10. In'a fountain pen as claimed in claim 1, 10 the member terminated by the tracing member is made in two parts one screwed to the end of the usual fountain pen reservoir,` the other located within said first part, containing the abutment, and terminated by the tracing member, an 15 expansion chamber arranged between the. member screwed at the end of the reservoir and the member carrying the tracing element, for storing the excess of ink supplied to the tracing element owing to the expansion of the air contained in 2 the reservoir, constituted by/ a corkscrew chamber in communication with the interior of the reservoir and with the atmosphere, the air necessary for the operation passing through said expanslon chamber to reach the reservoir. z5

11. In.a 'fountain pen` as claimed in claim l, the expansion chamber is formed by a wire wound in a spiral.

12. In a fountain pen as claimed in claim 1, the amplitude of the axial displacement of the a0 balls of the tracing element limited by the abutment determining the desired thickness of the line traced is obtained by more or less screwing the member carrying the tracing element in the membersurrounding the same, which is in its as turn screwed to the end of the reservoir.

13. AIn a fountain pen of the ball tracing type, the combination of a series of axially movable balls, with `a rigid element having a spreadable tip portion, means to limit movement of said n element in one` direction, said tip'portion being engageable with one of said balls and constituting an abutment cooperating with said balls, and a circumferential stop to limit the spreading of said tip portion. 14. In a fountain pen of the ball tracing type having a series of axially movable balls, a rigid element comprising a series of wires lodged within the tip portion of the fountain pen, a seat portion formed at one end of said element, said 50 seat portion engaging a stationary portion of said pen, a spreadable twisted portion formed on the opposite end 4,of said element engageable with and acting as abutment for said axially movable balls, and a circumferential stop to limit the 55 lateral spreading movement of said twisted porion.

15. In a fountain pen of the ball tracing type, having a series of axiallymovable balls,a capillary fluid and air duct comprising a series of closely o0 adjoining wires arranged within the tip 'portion of the fountain pen, a seat portion formed by one end of said wires, said seat portion engaging a stationary portion of said pen, a spreadable twisted portion formed at the opposite end of 65 said wires engageable with and cooperating with said balls to` act as regulating means .for the fluid and air supply, and a circumferential stop limting the extent of spreading of the twisted pioxrtion to regulate the admission of fluid and 70 a 16. In a fountain pen of the type described, a tip member forming a cylindrical chamber, a movable tracing ball iny said'chamber, a movable regulating ball in said chamber resting on said 15 tracing ball, a beading at the end of the rcylindrical chamber for preventing the escape of the tracing ball, a flared' extension of the cylindrical chamber, a movable feeding ball in said flared extension. the flared extension being of non-circular shape and constituting a seat for the feeding ball, the space between the non-circular seat for the feeding ball and said ball constituting a permanent passage for the ink towards theregulating ball and the tracingball, an abutment drical chamber for preventing the escape of the tracing ball, a' flared extension of the cylindrical chamber, a movable feeding ball in said flared extension, the flared extension being provided with ducts and forming a seat for the feeding ball, the ducts formed in said extension constituting a permanent passage for the ink towards the regulating ball and the tracing ball, an abutment limiting the upward displacement of the three balls, the cross-section of the permanent passage for the ink varying according to the axial displacement, limited by the abutment, that the ball unit can effect, an expansion chamber arranged in the upper portion of said cylindrical chamber in communication with the interior of the reservoir of the pen and with the atmosphere to prevent an excessive ink supply to the tracing ball and to ensure an adequate air supply for the operation of the fountain pen.

18. In a fountain pen of the type described, a tip member forming a cylindrical chamber, a movable tracing ball in said chamber, a movable regulating ball in said chamber resting on said tracing ball, a beading at the end of the cylindrical chamber for preventing the escape of the tracing ball, a flared extension of the cylindrical chamber, a movable feeding ball in said flared "extension, the flared extension being of elliptical shape and forming a seat for the feeding ball, the space between the elliptical seat for the feeding ball and said ball constituting a permanent passage for the ink towards the regulating ball and the tracing ball, an abutment limiting the displacement of the three balls, the cross section of the permanent passage for the ink varying according to the axial displacement, limited by the abutment, that the ball unit can effect, an expansion chamber arranged inthe upper portion of said cylindrical chamber in communication with the interior of the reservoir of the pen and with the atmosphere to prevent an excessive ink supply to the tracing ball and to ensure an adequate air supply for the operation of the fountain pen.

19. A fountain pen of the ball tracing type, having a series of axially movable ballsa tip portion made of two parts, a first part being screwed upon the fountain pen reservoir, the second part being mounted within said first part and containing an abutting element for said balls limiting their axial displacement, expansion means between the first and second parts for storing the excess of ink supplied to the balls caused :,aoasss by the expansion of air contained in the reservoir, said expansion means'comprising a succession oi' small chambers in communication with each other and with the atmosphere, the yair necessary for the operation of the pen passing through said expansion means to the reservoir.

20. A' fountain pen of the ball tracing type.

having a series of axially movable balls, a tipreservoir, said expansion means comprising helically disposed channels in communication with the interior of the reservoir andswith the atmosphere, the air necessary for the operation of the pen passing through said expansion means to the reservoir.

21. A fountain pen of the ball tracing type;

having a series of axially movable balls, a tip portion made of two parts, a first part being screwed upon the fountain pen reservoir, the second part being mountedwithin said first part and containing an abutting element for said balls limiting their axial displacement, expansion means between the first and second parts for storing the excess of ink supplied to the balls caused by the expansion of air contained in the reservoir, said expansion means comprising a chamber having a s'pirally, wound Wire disposed therein, said chamber communicating with the interior of the reservoir and with the atmosphere, the air required for the operation of the pen flowing through said expansion means to the reservoir.-

22. In a fountain pen of the ball tracing type, having a series of axially movable balls, a tip portion made of two parts, a first part being screwed upon the fountain pen reservoir, the second part mounted within said first part, said second part containing an abutting element for aforesaid balls for limiting their axial displacement, said abutting element comprising a capillary fiuid and air duct formed of a series of closely adjoining wires arranged within the tip portion, a seat portion formed by one end of said wires engageable with a stationary part of the tip portion, a spreadable twisted portion formed at the opposite end of said wires engageable with and cooperating with said balls to act as regulating means for the uid and air supply, a circumferential stop limiting the extent of spreading of the twisted portion to regulate the admission of fluid and air, an expansion chamber arranged Abetween the rst and second parts for storing the excess of ink supplied to the balls caused by the expansion of the air contained in the reservoir, helical ducts in said chamber in communication with theinterior of the reservoir and with the atmosphere, the air necessary for the operation of the pen passing through said expansion chamber to the reservoir, whereby by screwing relative to each other of said parts forming the tip portion of the pen, the resulting variation in the amplitude of axial displacement of the balls, limited by the abutment, determines the desired thickness of the lines obtained.

JEAN LAFoaEsT. 

